Dear Walltown neighbors,
Last August, Northwood Investors, the real estate company that owns Northgate Mall, unveiled a new site plan for Northgate. Northwood’s new plan (see attached photo) is centered on scientific labs for research and development and office space. There is no housing, affordable or otherwise, in this new plan.
Using Northwood’s new plan as a starting point, the Northgate Mall Committee of the Walltown Community Association (WCA) has spent the last five months working on a new alternative design and we’re ready to get your feedback!
What power do we have as residents to influence the process?
Remember that the zoning of the property is where we as residents have power. Northwood’s plan requires a rezoning of the property and Durham City Council must approve that request before they can proceed (Northwood has not yet submitted their rezoning application). Northwood needs community support in order to change the zoning at Northgate Mall. Let them know our support will only come when our priorities are addressed.
There are TWO UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALLTOWN RESIDENTS to review and provide feedback on our the WCA’s new alternative design:
Monday, February 6 from 5pm to 6pm via Zoom
The WCA Northgate Mall Committee will host a feedback session.
You can join via Zoom using this link*
Saturday, February 11 at 10:30am at Walltown Rec Center + Zoom
The WCA will spend a significant portion of its bi-monthly community meeting sharing and gathering feedback on the new alternative design.
You can join in-person at the Walltown Rec Center (1308 W Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27705) or via Zoom using this link*
*Please only share this information with Walltown community members. It is important that our community’s voice is heard during this first round of feedback. There will be future opportunities for other Durham residents to review and provide input.
How did the WCA come up with this alternative design?
The Northgate Mall Committee based our design on the community-centered vision we developed over the last four years (the details of our work and findings can be explored in the report, Building a Place for All People: A Community-Centered Vision for the New Northgate Mall). We have engaged well over 600 residents via surveys, focus groups, outdoor presentations, and an April 2021 press conference. In hearing from Northgate’s most proximate neighbors, and from those around the city, it is clear that an equitable redevelopment of the mall property must create connection to the community. Connection is created by an inviting and welcoming space (affordable living, shopping, and entertainment; open, accessible, and sustainable physical environment) for all Durham residents. Our priorities for the redevelopment include:
Affordable Housing: We want 30% of the housing units on the property to be priced for people at or below the Walltown median income ($37,222 annually).
Affordable Retail: We want a grocery store that pays living wages and retail set-asides for non-chain local businesses, especially BIPOC-owned.
Accessible Community-centered Design: We want a community greenspace that connects the property with Walltown park by opening up along Guess Road. We want a dedicated community space, such as a Durham County library branch containing a Walltown history hub.
Environmental Sustainability: We want enhanced stormwater reduction infrastructure to significantly reduce runoff and excessive flooding in and around Ellerbe Creek. Reduced parking areas will also protect Walltown from current and future summer heat.
Thank you for being a part of Walltown. We hope to see you at one of the two input sessions to help build the vision for a Northgate that works for our community.
On behalf of the Walltown Community Association,
--
Brandon J. Williams
he/him/his
919.308.3900
www.walltown.net
"From beatboxers to beat breakers, like the yellow brick road we go where the beat takes us..."
